Ferdinand Ries (1784-1828) was a German composer and pianist. The oldest son of the violinist Franz Anton Ries, he received his first musical instruction from his father and completed his education in Munich and Vienna. From 1803 to 1805 in Vienna he was a student of Ludwig van Beethoven, who himself had studied with Ferdinand's father during his years in Bonn. After many long musical journeys and stays in Paris, Koblenz, Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, Hamburg, Copenhagen, STockholm and Saint Petersburg he came to London in 1813, where his accomplishments found such acclaim that he stayed there until 1823. Then he retired to Godesberg with a respectable amount of accumulated wealth, from whence he undertook several tours to England and Italy.
At last he yielded to his desire for a steady position and took on the post of city kapellmeister in Aachen. External hindrances forced him to give up this post after only two years. He removed to Frankfurt am Main, where he found an adequate substitute position in the direction of the local St. Cecilia Association. He held this post until his death.
